Under the Radar Podcast

This year 21 anti-transgender laws have passed nationwide with hundreds more under consideration. But Maine’s legislature has gone against the trend, instead approving a new “shield law” protecting health care workers who provide gender-affirming care. It is headed to the desk of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills.It is incredibly important “to protect states where care is legal because providers are worried,” said Polly Crozier, director of family advocacy for GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders. “There's really a lot of disinformation and misinformation out there. And we want to make sure that in states where care is legal, that providers are able to provide best practice medical care.”Plus, Massachusetts U.S Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Elizabeth Warren successfully fought for $850,000 in federal funds for an LGBTQ+ Senior Housing Development known as The Pryde. This is a big win, says Janson Wu, senior director of state advocacy and government relations at The Trevor Project, but the battle for funding like this shouldn't be so difficult.“$850,000 is a big deal for this project. But when you think about it in the context of an appropriation bill, it's a fraction of a fraction of a percent,” Wu said. “And so the other story here is that it shows the extent that extreme conservatives in Congress have used the budgeting process as a way to attack the LGBTQ community. And that's a disturbing trend to have.”And while the South End once held the crown, many now claim Dorchester to be Boston’s star “gayborhood.” But trends come and go, says Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of the Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth.“I'm so old that I could tell you that back in the day, the Fenway was considered the gay neighborhood and Somerville was the lesbian neighborhood. And so, all of it, JP, Dorchester, South End were all up and coming since then,” said Sterling Stowell. “But I think it's important to acknowledge that, certainly historically, before the days of legal protections, and at least a relative greater level of public acceptance, the LGBTQ folks were not economically a group that could afford higher rents. And so historically, we were living in areas where rents were lower.”It's all on Under the Radar's LGBTQ News Roundtable.GUESTSGrace Sterling Stowell, executive director of the Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth, or BAGLYJanson Wu, senior director of state advocacy and government relations at The Trevor ProjectPolly Crozier, director of family advocacy for GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, or GLAD

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion rights were pushed into a blazing spotlight. The intense fallout from the 2022 decision resulted in new state-sponsored legal limits to abortion access as well as the successful blocking of would-be abortion bans in states like Kansas. Despite the highly charged ongoing national debate about abortion, national surveys show Americans’ attitudes remain about the same. A new poll of Bay State residents by GBH and Commonwealth Beacon conducted by the MassINC Polling Group echoes the national polling. MaryRose Mazzola from the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts told Under the Radar she has seen an influx of out-of-state patients since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She said new abortion bans, “force people to travel or they force people to seek other options and figure this out on their own.”Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will soon rule on how Americans can access mifepristone — a major abortion medication and method used by nearly two-thirds of all who seek abortions. Arizona’s highest court ruled earlier this week that an 1864 law banning abortion is now enforceable.Amelia Bonow from Shout Your Abortion argues that the prevalence of abortion is more than what it seems from public opinion polls. “We all know a lot of people who have had abortions,” said Bonow on Under the Radar. “One in three women has at least one abortion in their lifetime and that is a consistent statistic across demographics race, class.”The stigma around abortion is what fuels the national debate says Erin O'Brien, a political science professor from UMass Boston.“The more that Massachusetts and other states can do to talk about how normative of an experience abortion is, that's better for politics and reproductive health for all women, regardless of whether they choose to have an abortion,” said O'Brien.GUESTSErin O’Brien, associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Boston. MaryRose Mazzola, chief external affairs officer for Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. Amelia Bonow, executive director of Shout Your Abortion, an abortion rights advocacy organization. 

Rhode Island taxpayers are feeling sticker shock as they may shell out over $130 million in debt payments for a soccer stadium in Pawtucket. One reporter noted it was similar to the amount the government of Pakistan is charged to borrow money.Plus, the bids are in for major offshore wind projects that could bring energy and jobs to Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, where New Bedford and Salem stand to gain big shares of the money pie.And a surprise resignation by New Hampshire Congresswoman Annie Kuster has stirred fierce competition for the seat — including a top Biden aide with local roots.It’s Under the Radar's Regional News Roundtable.

"Relinquished" is an industry term used to describe the process where parents give up their children for adoption. The term is also the title of author Gretchen Sisson's new book, “Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and The Privilege of American Motherhood” which profiles the stories of birth mothers and breaks down the myths and misunderstandings about the American adoption process.For many birth mothers, the stigma prevents them from forming healthy relationships with their child and the child's adoptive family said Sisson in an interview on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley. “When you only have these two types of stories to tell, the one where the [birth] mother doesn’t care, or the one where her desire to be part of her child's life is a problem, then you're not making space for openness in adoption that is well supported, well understood, and ultimately child-centered.”Listen to the full conversation above.GUESTGretchen Sisson, qualitative sociologist in the department of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco and author of "Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and The Privilege of American Motherhood"

Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers have joined more than 200 U.S. musicians in an open letter demanding protections against artificial intelligence. The group argues the new tech could undermine or replace human artists.Plus, Beyonce’s record-breaking album, “Cowboy Carter” is pushing boundaries in country music highlighting the genre’s Black artists and Black history.And comedian Kevin Hart’s peers tap him for the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.Under the Radar talks those stories and more for our Pop Culture News Roundtable.GUESTSMichael Jeffries, dean of academic affairs and professor of American studies at Wellesley CollegeKaren Huang, lecturer on history & literature at Harvard University

March Madness wraps up this week as top college basketball players compete for the coveted NCAA championship. Some of the most talented collegiate players will go on to join the pros in the NBA — and while it's likely they want to play like superstars LeBron James, Jason Tatum and Stephen Curry, to name a few, more and more it appears they also want to dress like them. "There was a lot of resistance at first," Mitchell S. Jackson, author of "Fly: The Big Book of Basketball Fashion" told Under the Radar. "And we're really talking about the youngsters that come in the league at that time, which is Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul. Those are the guys that started to embrace the new standards, or mandates, of the NBA Fashion." Under the Radar speaks with Jackson to learn how fashion icons have emerged from an unlikely setting — the NBA. GUEST Mitchell S. Jackson, Distinguished Professor in the Department of English at Arizona State University and author of "Fly: The Big Book of Basketball Fashion."

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the national hunger crisis across the country. In Massachusetts, the number of households struggling with food insecurity more than doubled, from about 8% pre-COVID to a record high of 19% during the pandemic. Emergency food access programs, food pantries and even targeted pandemic food subsidies did not eliminate the hunger emergency. That inspired some communities across the state to install community refrigerators, filled with food shared by neighbors and local businesses. Maria Ravelli, of Woo Fridge and organizer behind the first-ever Worcester community fridge, shares that she is, "fueled by equal parts love and rage" to continue creating neighborly food-sharing spaces. Since the pandemic, these fridges have continued to serve the high demand of the community. "We do multiple checks a day to make sure that the fridge is clean, that it's as stocked as it can be," Megan Ramette, an organizer of the Allston-Brighton fridge, said. "Things that we see that are stocked in the morning often don't last through the afternoon, and they certainly don't last through the evening." GUESTS Megan Ramette, organizer for the Allston-Brighton community fridges. Maria Ravelli, organizer of Woo Fridge, from Worcester, Mass. Here are some community fridges in Greater Boston to check out: All/Bright Community Fridge Brighton Congregational: 404 Washington St., Brighton Roslindale Community Fridge 1 Firth Road, Boston Jamaica Plain Community Fridge 672 Centre St., Jamaica Plain Somerville Community Fridge (Winter Hill and Union Square) 35 Prospect St. and 36 Sewall St., (Somerville), 33 St Clement Rd (Medford) Fridge in the Square – Harvard Square 45 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge Brookline Community Fridge 7 Station St., Brookline Lynn Community Fridge 16 City Hall Square, Lynn Worcester Community Fridges 16 Brooks St., 44 Portland St., 42 South St., 695 SouthBridge St., 2 Kansas St., Worcester Want us to add another community fridge to this list? Email: thule@wgbh.org or jessesteinmetz@wgbh.org.

From immigration to reproductive rights, issues that ignited the country in the last presidential election will be re-litigated in the rematch between President Biden and former President Trump. As the contest heats up, former President Trump’s speeches are reaching new levels of violent rhetoric — at a recent rally he predicted a "blood bath" should he lose. And Gov. Maura Healey opposes a potential ballot question that would eliminate the MCAS test as a requirement for high school graduation, an opposition that puts her at odds with the Massachusetts Teachers Union backing the question. Plus, what are the takeaways from Super Tuesday and recent primary elections that may indicate trouble or triumph for both parties heading to November? That and more during Under the Radar with Callie Crossley's full hour with members of the Mass Politics Profs. GUESTS Erin O’Brien, associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Boston Jerold Duquette, professor of political science and director of the Public Policy and Management Program at Central Connecticut State University Maurice Cunningham, former associate professor of political science at UMass Boston

How did Ella Fitzgerald become the legend she was? That’s the question author Judith Tick asks and answers in her new biography on the famed vocalist, “Becoming Ella Fitzgerald: The Jazz Singer Who Transformed American Song," our March selection for Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club. Jazz and history buffs know about the young Ella Fitzgerald’s first nervous performance at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater. The new book marks that pivotal moment in the life of the would-be dancer and many new details in the first full-scaled biography since the singer’s death nearly thirty years ago. Tick describes Fitzgerald's legacy as a duality: "She could sing all kinds of songs... she could go on all kinds of television programs and uplift people around her. And yet, at the same time, her humility and her ordinariness shows us the full dimensions of a great personality." From turning a nursery rhyme into a classic jazz tune to perfecting improvisational singing known as scatting, Ella Fitzgerald’s talent led her to become one of America’s cultural icons. GUEST Judith Tick, Professor emeritus of music history at Boston’s Northeastern University. She is the author of “Becoming Ella Fitzgerald: The Jazz Singer Who Transformed American Song.”

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have officially clinched the required delegates for their Democratic and Republican presidential nominations. With the unofficial general campaign underway, both parties are eager to win the Latino vote. Now, a Republican strategy to shore up Latino support is becoming clear as they are aligning with Latin American politicians — far-right populist President of Argentina, Javier Milei, was a featured speaker at the recent Conservative Political Action Committee, as well as President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, who told the crowd to "put up a fight" against the "global elites" to win back the U.S. Plus, accusations of racism are flaring up as temporary shelters are being set up across the state to house migrant families. And Big Papi threw a first pitch at the Red Sox's recent exhibition game in the Dominican Republic — showcasing Dominican players’ dominance in American baseball. We break down those stories and more on our Latinx News Roundtable this week on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley. GUESTS Julio Ricardo Varela, MSNBC columnist and founder of Latino Rebels Marcela García, opinion columnist and associate editor at the Boston Globe

Greater Boston is home to one of the largest populations of Puerto Ricans. It's a local community that expanded by the thousands after World War II, when about six million islanders from the US territory made their way to the mainland looking for better economic opportunities. They enriched the nation’s cultural melting pot with aspects of indigenous customs and traditions. Today, with an even greater appreciation for authentic representation and a ready audience to celebrate it, organizers have created BoriCorridor, an inaugural arts-led tour of the Northeast to celebrate Boricuan, or Puerto Rican, diaspora heritage. Under the Radar gets a preview before it arrives in Boston later this month. GUESTS Elsa Mosquera, Co-Founder and Principal at the Agora Cultural Architects And Creator of BoriCorridor. Melissa Rodriguez, a stand-up comedian of Teatro Breve, the Puerto Rican variety show performing on the first weekend of the BoriCorridor tour.

From the 1500s through the Civil War, more than 10 million Black men, women and children were enslaved in America. Slavery deemed them property. They were listed on bills of sale; their family members were sold away and their names were changed. After emancipation and the Civil War, the formerly enslaved found many of the familial threads of connection buried or lost. It’s why their African-American descendants have difficulty tracing their lineage. Now, a local organization is leading a national collaborative project to identify each of the 10 million people, stories, and names of those who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America. Danyelle White, who has been restoring her personal Black lineage for 6 years, highlights the need for this project: "I'm almost doing this for the sake of justice...I am very interested in uncovering stories and creating a full picture, not just for myself, but [for] the rest of my family, and for everyone else. We all deserve to understand where we come from." Dr. Kendra Taira Field, chief historian of 10 Million Names, says that this is just the beginning of many years of hard work that must go into heritage recovery and restoration: "We're at a really powerful and beautiful moment of great potential and possibility... As we bring together the tools of historians, genealogists, and descendants, I think we have a great, great future ahead." "It's pretty hard to tell the history of slavery without talking about the white folks and their involvement," said Richard Cellini, founding director of 10 Million Names. He emphasizes that this work is necessary for all of America, regardless of whether you are Black or not: "This is not Black history and it's not white history. This is American history." GUESTS Dr. Kendra Taira Field, chief historian of 10 Million Names, associate professor of history and director of the center for the study of race and democracy at Tufts University Richard Cellini, founding director of 10 Million Names, director of the Harvard Slavery Remembrance Program and founder of the Georgetown Memory Project Danyelle White, vice president of strategic initiatives & community engagement at the Salt Lake Tribune, she has been tracing her Black family heritage for 6 years

In 1993, "The Joy Luck Club" was a surprise hit. The poignant story featuring an all-Asian cast broke barriers at the box office. Would "The Joy Luck Club" inspire more stories drawn from the Asian American experience? No, as it turned out — it took 25 years before 2018’s “Crazy Rich Asians,” another film featuring an all-Asian cast, became a breakout global hit. Last year, Asian representation got its biggest boost since “Crazy Rich Asians” when the movie “Everything Everywhere All At Once” reaped top box office receipts as well as near-universal acclaim from critics and fans. This year, Asian representation in TV and movies presents us with "the biggest menu yet," says Elena Creef, professor of women’s and gender studies at Wellesley College. "I am so thrilled to see the most diversity across genres of storytelling for Asian-American stories — I think ever." Jenny Korn, research affiliate at Harvard University, celebrates the focus on the intersectional identities of Asians in this year's catalog, including the film "Joy Ride." "I will say this movie has the greatest amount of queer visibility for Asians," she said, adding that "of all the movies that we're discussing today, [it] does the most explicit job of declaring authenticity for Asians and intra-Asian across ethnicities." In this special hourlong discussion, Under the Radar looks at a broad sample of new Asian-American representation in movies and shows like "Past Lives," "BEEF," "The Brothers Sun" and more. GUESTS Jenny Korn, Research Affiliate and Founder and Coordinator of the Race, Tech and Media Working Group at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. Elena Creef, Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at Wellesley College. specializing in Asian American visual history in photography, film and popular culture.

In the 1950s, most single, white middle-class women were expected to marry and raise a family — much like their mothers before them. But becoming a flight attendant, or a "stewardess" as they were referred to then, offered another kind of life for young women — a life of adventure. From GBH’s "American Experience" program, the new documentary "Fly with Me" showcases the firsthand accounts of the pioneering women, who historians argue, transformed the workplace — both in the air and on the ground. Co-director Sarah Colt describes the stewardesses featured in the film as women filled with "wanderlust," who were "interesting and engaged with pushing boundaries. These young women were drawn to an independent life of travel and glamor. But the airlines also imposed women-only job restrictions like weigh-ins, and deliberately excluded Black women. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley spoke with Sarah Colt, co-director of the film and Julia Cooke, author and historian, about the film and the role flight attendants played in the movement for gender equity in the workplace. GUESTS Sarah Colt, writer and co-director of "Fly With Me," an "American Experience" documentary and GBH production Julia Cooke, author and historian featured in "Fly With Me"

Forty acres and a mule. That’s what was promised to thousands of the formerly enslaved in a post-Civil War nation. Since then, America has grappled with the idea of reparations for Black Americans. But in recent years, some cities, towns, and states have begun to consider — and move forward — with reparations as atonement for America’s cruel history of slavery. A new 7-part podcast from GBH News called "What Is Owed?" explores what reparations might look like in Boston, one of the oldest cities in America, and if there is an achievable plan for the rest of the country. GUESTS Saraya Wintersmith, politics reporter for GBH News and host of "What Is Owed?" Jerome Campbell, senior producer for "What Is Owed?" Dr. William Darity, professor of Public Policy, African and African American Studies, and Economics and the director of the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University